sobrietea~ go sober

Happy 88th birthday to the incredible organization that has saved mine and countless others’ life!

🎉Alcoholics Anonymous🎉

AA was founded by Bill W. and Dr. Bob. On June 10th, we celebrate Dr. Bob’s sobriety date, which is recognized as the official start of this life-saving fellowship.

Later this month, my own sobriety will turn 18 months old (they grow up so fast 😅) and I’ll be entering my Golden Year! This is significant for me, because for the last few years of my life, I didn’t think I would make it past this age because of they way I was drinking and absolutely loathing myself.

Today I heard something I’ve never heard before in a meeting, something that made me both laugh and reminisce. Something so true, but goes without acknowledgment.

“I have never woke up in the morning thinking ’damn, I should have drank last night.’”

I’m so 🐥ing grateful there’s a way out of this insanity, for those who have paved the way before me, and for those who continue to show me the way every day. There’s some inspirational people in these halls, deep thinkers. There’s also lots of love there, too.

For anybody out there struggling, I see you. While our paths may not be the same, nor our drug of choice, I know your pain. I know the bullshit you go through. I know the exhausting mental gymnastics you perform to justify another drink, another hit, another high. We rarely drink or use with the intention of dying, we just want to fucking feel better. Substances work, until they don’t. Substance will steal from you and lie to you, until you’re just a shell of yourself. We may think “just one more,” but the raw truth I have learned in this journey is that tomorrows are not a promise. When we’re using, they rarely feel like a gift. But you may never have the chance to be yourself again, to feel better, to live the life you’ve always imagined, if you stay stuck. There is a solution. There is hope. You can do it, and you’re worth it. If there’s nothing else you believe in right now, put your faith into a sober person. There’s millions of us out there, thanks (in part) to the work of Bill W., Dr. Bob, and many others.